Conservative group probes Virginia redistricting vote, mail-in ballots

FIRST ON FOX: A conservative political group is launching an investigation into Virginia’s redistricting amendment vote after a court blocked certification of the results, raising new questions from critics about how the referendum was conducted and whether election procedures were properly followed.

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is launching a multi-part investigation focused on the handling of mail-in ballots and alleged political influence in the classroom, Fox News Digital has learned.

The move comes as the legal battle over the amendment intensifies, with several lawsuits pending and the Virginia Supreme Court scheduled to hear oral arguments Monday.

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AFPI’s legal team said the first phase of its investigation will involve records requests to several Virginia counties seeking communications and documents relating to how mail-in and mail-in ballots were handled during the election.

The demands focus on how requests were processed, how ballots were distributed and accepted, how they were stored and under what guidelines election officials were operating under.

A person walks to vote in Virginia’s redistricting referendum at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Alexandria, Virginia. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

The group argues that these documents are public records required by Virginia law and should clarify whether proper procedures were followed.

“The questions we ask are not complicated,” said Leigh Ann O’Neill, AFPI’s legal affairs director. “Was the election conducted in accordance with state and federal laws?” Have teachers improperly turned students into a private grassroots army?

“And, if so, what will the school district do about it? These are fundamental questions that demand answers, regardless of Tuesday’s vote.”

A second part of the investigation focuses on Fairfax County public schools, where AFPI is seeking records related to civics course materials and instruction.

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Signs urge early voters to vote yes or no in Virginia’s redistricting referendum at the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center in Arlington, Virginia, March 31, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

According to the group, some parents said teachers commented on their political beliefs and encouraged students to persuade their parents on how to vote in the referendum. AFPI argues that, if confirmed, such conduct could violate state law, federal law, and school district policy governing political activity in state-funded classrooms.

The group said it was also sending a letter to the Fairfax County superintendent requesting an internal investigation into what it described as “very concerning reports of partisan voter influence.”

The investigation comes amid a growing legal battle over the amendment. A Virginia court has already ruled to block certification of the vote, and the dispute now moves to the state’s highest court.

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Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger speaks at an event canvassing Virginians for fair elections in Woodbridge, Virginia, April 18, 2026. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

There are three legal challenges pending in Virginia courts, including an initial lawsuit brought by state Republicans, which the Virginia Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Monday. There is also a separate case filed in Richmond by GOP Reps. John McGuire and Rob Wittman and a challenge in Tazewell County, where Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley declared the referendum unconstitutional. An appeal from Virginia’s Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones is expected.

A ruling in the primary case could come within weeks, with courts under pressure to act before Virginia’s August and late July primary deadlines for voter registration and mail-in voting.

AFPI said its investigation aims to ensure transparency as the legal process unfolds, arguing that if election procedures were followed correctly, the records would bear it out and, if not, Virginia voters deserve answers.

The Virginia Supreme Court hearing will be livestreamed, allowing the public to follow arguments as the case progresses.

AFPI said its investigation would continue in stages, with findings and additional inquiries expected in the coming weeks.

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The Virginia Department of Elections and Fairfax County Public Schools did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Bill Mears and Mark Meredith of Fox News contributed to this report.